Jewelry display device



June 16, 1942-. c. SILVERMAN ,2 5

I JEWELRY DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Prior AH June 1942- c. SILVEIIQMAN 2,286,385

JEWELRY DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16, 1942 barren stares harem OFFICE JEWELRY DISPLAY DEVICE Charles Silverman, Providence, R. I.

Application July 5, 1940, Serial No. 343,958

5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in an insignia member display device for use as an article of jewelry or as a jewelry finding adapted to make up an ornamental part of a larger article of jewelry.

My invention is particularly adapted for use wherein the insignia members comprise initials, preferably flat three-sided members with the initials cut therein and the display device includes a frame having edge walls and front and rear portions projecting inwardly from said edge walls sui'liciently to provide a continuous trough to receive the edges of the insignia members inserted therein and an open center through which the initials themselves may be displayed.

While I am aware that skeleton frames have been provided in the prior art, the frames and members have not been designed so that each initial member may be interchangeable in various portions of the frame for other insignia members. Thus with a type of tilted square display member common in the art, it has been common practice to make initials in the form of right triangles with a vertical hypotenuse and two equal legs and thus when the two initial members are inserted within the frame, the two hypotenuses will be adjacent and it will be impossible to substitute an initial member designed for the right hand side in the left hand frame portion due to the fact that if the initial member were tilted, the hypotenuse would project beyond the frame, nor has it been possible, even when providing cut-out initial members of equal finish On the front and rear thereof to provide a member which may be turned around for such insertion for the initial if thus reversed would then appear backwards in the left hand portion of the frame. As a result in such a standard type of initial display device, in the prior art it has been necessary to provide both right handed and left handed sets of initials.

An object of my invention is to provide initials so shaped and a frame so shaped that any initial may be moved from the right to the left hand portion of a two member frame, or selectively substituted in any desired position in a multiple member frame, thus requiring the provision of one set of initials only and eliminating the extra set of initials formerly thought necessary in the art. I have realized that by providing each initial with equilateral side walls, each radial to a common center and by providing a frame member with equilateral side walls, also radial to the same common center, whether said frame and initials be of true sector shape, or

otherwise, and with the circumferential distance or arc at any point of any radius between the side walls of said frame, being a multiple of the circumferential distance or are taken at any similar point on the corresponding radius of the insignia member between the side walls of each insignia member, that an insignia member may be merely pivoted in the frame to transfer it from the right hand position to the left position and that any one may be readily substituted for any other of a single set of insignia or initial members.

Having discovered this principle, I have discovered that it will be applicable to various shaped articles of jewelry or jewelry findings, whether they be of true sector shape, or sectors having a plurality of chord top walls for receiving the chord top wall of each insignia member, which thus can be made of a kite shape, diamond shape, or otherwise, or employing a multiplicity of insignia members in which case the device may be made of fan shape or of any desired circular portion, or even of such an irregular shape, such as the heart shape shown.

A further feature of my invention relates to the means I preferably employ to permit insertion of and to retain selected insignia members in selected positions within said frame.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a kiteshape insignia display member for use as a jewelry finding constructed in accordance with my invention adapted to hold two interchangeable insignia or initial members.

Fig. 1 is a sectional View taken along the line l of Fig. 1.

Fig, 2 is a plan View or top elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a disassembled front elevation of two initials which may be employed in the skeleton frame shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 which illustrates how the initial member shown in full lines at the right hand portion of the frame may be readily tilted to take up the left hand portion of the frame, as shown in dotted lines without its removal from the frame, and keeping the initial in upright position and displaying the same front.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation diagrammatically illustrating the tilted square type of frame shown in the prior art wherein one side wall of each initial comprises the hypotenuse of a right triangle and the other side wall and top wall comprise the legs of a right triangle showing an initial in full lines at the right hand portion of said frame and in dotted lines the position it would attain when tilted on its lower end as an axis with the side wall comprising the hypotenuse projecting out of the frame illustrating that such tilting was impossible.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the same square shape frame shown in Fig. showing an initial in full lines in the right hand portion of the frame, but with its front and rear reversed to fit in the left hand portion of the frame in the dotted line position shown, it being observed, however, that the dotted line position of the initial shows the initial backwards.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing two initials constructed in accordance with my invention in side by side relationship having equilateral side walls but with a common center exterior of the frame to illustrate the principles of interchangeability on which my invention is based.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a diamond shaped insignia display member for use as a jewelry finding constructed in accordance with my invention adapted to hold two interchangeable insignia or initial members.

Fig. 9 is a plan View or top elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a disassembled front elevation of two initials which may be employed in the skeleton frame shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a fan-shape insignia display member for use as a jewelry finding constructed in accordance with my invention adapted to hold three interchangeable insignia or initial members.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view looking towards a side wall of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 11.

Fig, 18 is a disassembled front elevation of three initials which may be employed in the skeleton frame shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a front elevational view of a heart shaped insignia display member for use as a jewelry finding constructed in accordance with my invention adapted to hold two interchangeable insignia or initial members depending from an arrow-shaped supporting pin.

Fig. 15 is a plan view or top elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a disassembled front elevation of two interchangeable initials which may be employed in the skeleton frame shown in Fig. 14.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, If], it, Iii" and 1' generally indicate an insignia member display device for use as a jewelry finding constructed in accordance with my invention. Said display devices each include a skeleton frame l2, l2, l2" and 12" and a plurality of interchangeable insignia members [4, 14, M" and W contained within said respective skeleton frames I2, [2, l2 and I2. The shape of both the frame and the cooperating initial members may be varied to various shapes, such as those shown so long as the principles of my invention are attained in the design of the various shapes. Thus the frame I2 may take the kite shape as in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1-4, the frame l2 may take 7 the diamond shapeas in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 8-10, the frame l2" ma take the fan shape as in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. l1-13 or the frame 52" may take the heart shape as in the embodiment of my invention shown in. Figs. 14-16 with the respective initials I4, l4, l4 and M respectively modified in shape to fit into the respective frames.

I have shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a device I B of a type known in the prior art having an open frame 2* of square shape and in which the respective initials M are each made in the shape of a right triangle in which one side wall thereof comprises an hypotenuse It and the other side wall It and the top wall IB thereof comprise the legs of a right triangle. Employing this shaped frame and two interchangeable insignia members of such a cooperating shape, it is apparent that if the interchangeable initial member HE be moved from the full line position shown in Fig. 5 in the right hand portion of the frame IZ with the side wall 16' thereof abutting the side wall 20' of the frame Ii! and the top wall Iiiabutting its respective top wall frame portion N to the dotted line position shown in the left hand portion of the frame that the hypotenuse it would abut the side wall 2K) of the frame, but would be of such a length that it could not be contained within the length of the side wall 28 and would extend through the respective top wall portion 24 of the frame and thus it would be impossible to move such an initial member M from the right hand portion to the left hand portion of such a frame to have it completely contained in the desired position within the area of the frame.

Fig. 6 illustrates how it would be possible to switch such an initial member 14* from the full line position shown in the right hand portion of such a frame to the dotted line position shown in the left hand portion of the frame if the initial M were turned around, but it will be observed that if such were done, the initial 14 shown as a C would have its front and rear reversed to appear backwards and would no longer be recognizable as a true C to the average person. It is thus apparent that in the prior art that two sets of right and left hand insignia had to be provided to fit in the respective right and left hand portions of a typical square prior art frame.

My invention consists, as stated, in the structural design of the respective frame and initials, so as to make selected insignia members of a single set insertable in the right or left hand portions of a two initial frame, or in any desired selected position in a multiple initial frame and requiring the use of only one set of initials to make up any desired monogram. My skeleton frame [2, [2, i2 and I2 in each of the embodiments of my invention shown, has the edge walls 22f22', 22" and 22, said edge walls including the side walls 2%, 26 20 and 213 and 25", 2t 2t and 29 and at least one top Wall 24, 24', 2 and 24". Said frame l2, l2, l2, l2' also includes a front wall 26, 26', 26" and 25 comprising portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls 22, 22, 22" and 22 thereof a sufiicient distance to overlap the edges of individual insignia members inserted therein and a rear wall 28, 28', 28 and 28 comprising portions projecting inwardly thereof at least as far as said front wall portions. If desired, however, the rear Wall 28 may extend across the assess-s frame, although in most instances, a skeleton rear wall 28, as well as a skeleton front wall 26 is usuauy provided. Each edge wall 22, 22', 22" and 22", skeleton front wall 26, 26, 26 and 26 and skeleton rear wall 28, 28', 28 and 28", thus provides a continuous trough 30, 30, 3i!" and 30" extending around the frame with the respective front wall portions 26, 26', 26 and 26 and rear wall portions 28, 28', 28" and 28 respectively overlapping and underlapping the respective edges of the individual insignia members [4, i4, i4" and M inserted therein.

Fig. 7 illustrates a principle of my invention. In this embodiment the insignia members 14 and It are provided with the respective equilateral side walls IS and NW both radial to a common center 32 In this embodiment the respective side walls it and 16* of the respective insignia It and ls are not continuous to said common center. In all of the embodiments of my invention shown in Figs. 1-4 and 8-16, the respective side walls IS, l6, I6" and I6 are equilateral and extend to the common center 32, 32', 32" and 32 forming the substantially sector shaped insignia M, It, i i" and M. It is thus obvious that as illustrated in Fig. 7 and as shown in Fig. 4 that if the respective side walls l6, l6, l6" and l6 of each interchangeable insignia member M, i i, M" and M are equilateral and are radial to a common center 32, 32', 32" and 32", that the individual letters, such as the letter E shown in Fig. '7, or the letter C shown in Fig. 4, may readily pivot on the common center 32, '32, 32 and 32" from a right to a left hand position within their respective frames l2, l2, I2" and l2, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 with the initial C being in upright position for reading, with the front surface exposed to read straight forward and not with the rear surface exposed as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 for the prior art embodiment Mi shown therein, and completely contained within the frame l2, l2, l2 and i2' which the prior art insignia M shown in dotted lines in Fig. could not be. The various insignia shown in all embodiments of my invention are of substantially equal size and shape so as to be readily interchangeable in the respective frames l2, l2, I2" and 12'. The side walls zs and 26 20 and 29 26 and 2m" and 28 and 20 of each respective frame [2, l2, I2 and IZ' are also equilateral and of substantially the same length as the side walls l6, l6, Iii and !6"' of each individual insignia member M, H3, H8 and l4 and are radial to the same common center 32, 32', 32" and 32 as the respective equilateral side walls of each insignia member. As each frame is adapted to hold a plurality of interchangeable members, the circumferential distance between the equilateral side walls 26* and 29 se and 2& 26 and 20 and ze and W of the frame as measured by an are taken at any point along the radius of said side walls is a multiple of the circumferential distance between the side walls i5, i6, i6 and i6 of each insignia member measured on an are having the same radius, thus, in the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-4, 8-10 and 14-16 being twice such a circumferential distance between the side walls It, Hi, Iii and 16 of said respective insignia members and in the embodiment shown in Figs. 11-13 employing a multiplicity of insignia members, being three in order to insert the respective initial members l4, l4, l4" and M' within the respective frames, at least one of the edge walls 22, 2 2", 22" and 22"" of each frame is provided with the open portion 33, 33', 33" and 33" for the selective insertion of the individual insignia members therein and suitable means are provided on said frame for retaining the inserted individual insignia members in selected position in said frame, in the embodiment shown, comprising a bendable projection 3:1, S4, 3 and 34"" for each such open portion 33, 33', 33" and 33" to be raised to a vertical position for insertion of the respective insignia members I4, l4, l4 and M' through the respective open portions '33, 33', 33 and 33 to assume their proper selected positions in said frame and after such insertion, to be bent downwards overlapping the thus inserted insignia members with the edges thereof contained within the trough 3B, 3 6, 30 and 35 heretofore described, around the edge walls of the frame.

If desired, suitable means may be provided to space the individual insignia members from the side walls 20* and 2t 20 and Ze 26 and Eb of its respective frame and particularly from each other in the open portion of the frame and for this purpose each respective side wall i6, i6 and E6" of each respective insignia member Hi, Hi and M" is provided with a spacing projection 35, 35' and 35 near each end thereof providing a central cut-away portion 31, 31 or 31 along each respective side wall l6, it or iii" of each member M, M, or 14" between said respetcive projections to provide a space 39, 39 or 39" between the thus indented ceniral exposed portions of the side walls of adjacent in dicia members, as shown in Fig. 1 twice the width of each cut-away portion 37, El or 3i", the respective cut-away portions 37, 31 or 3? adjacent the side walls Zfi and 2t 26 and 28 and ze and 28 of the frame being hidden behind the front wall portions 26, 26' or 25".

While any suitable type of insignia members I4 may be employed, my invention is chiefly adapted for use with the cut-out initial members l4, l4, l4" and 3' adapted to be inserted within the frame to make up a monogram. Sup posing an initial finding is desired, the manufacturer merely sells a plurality of alphabets with the amounts of the letters in unequal number if desired, to suit the respective letter initial needs and the retail jeweler inserts the proper selected letters to make up the desired monogram in the frame and then fastens them in position within the frame by means of bending over the respective projections 34, 34, 34" and 34.

If desired, the top wall of the frame may comprise a continuous are as the top wall 24", shown in Figs. 11-13 with the respective top walls I8" of each individual insignia member similarly curved to fit within to thus provide a true sector shaped frame with the respective members being also of true sector shape. If desired, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1a, the top wall may be curved in different arcuate formation from the curvature of a side wall it' pivoting on its center 32'. If desired, however, as in the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-4 and 8-10, the

top wall H3 or it of each insignia member may comprise a chord and said frame may have a plurality of frame top walls 24 or 24 and 24? or 24 also comprising chords of the same equal length as the flat top walls It or if! of said respective insignia members is or M to receive respectively the top walls of each respective insignia member.

As stated hitherto, my improved insignia member display device is usually employed as a jewelry finding and the kite-shaped embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 may have suitable rings 36 rigidly secured to each respective corner thereof, namely, at the junction of the side walls It thereof and at the junction of each respective side wall It and top wall portion 18 for the securement of a chain end thereto to form part of a necklace, bracelet, or other article of jewelry employing a cord or chain. Alternatively as in the findings shown in the various embodiments in Figs. 8-16, the finding may be adapted for use as a part of a pin or brooch having a suitable attaching pin (not shown) mounted on the rear surface thereof.

Where the frame has a plurality of flat top wall portions 26 or 2 3 2 3 or 2 1 the frame itself may be of any suitable shape so long as the principles of design of my device are maintained therein and it thus may vary from the kite-shape shown in Figs. 1-4 to the diamond shape shown in Figs. 8-10, or take any other suitable shape employing such a plurality of top wall portions. The embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 11-13, however, is adapted to simulate a fan and for this purpose the top wall 24" comprises a continuous are equal in circumferential length to the sum of the respective arcuate top walls 18" of the respective insignia members adapted to be inserted therein. If desired, my invention may be employed in irregularly shaped display devices, such as the heart shape display device shown in Figs. 14-16, in which the respective frame top portions 24 and M may comprise two lobe shaped top walls in simulation of the respective heart auricle top walls and of greater curvature than the normal curvature of the top wall of a fan frame of equal width. The top wall it and NW of each respective insignia member 14 is of similar lobe shape to its respective top wall portion 2 3 or 26 to fit against the respective top wall 24 or 2 1 of the frame. In this embodiment, the frame 52" may be provided with a ring 48 between said respective lobe portions for securement to a holding member, such as the arrow 33 having a in (not shown) in the rear thereof for attachment to the wearer's clothing. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 and 8-10 a respective open portion 33 and 33* or 33 and 33 is provided in each respective top wall portion 215* and 2t or 213 and 24 to receive its respective insignia H3 or I l therein and cooperating projections 34 and i or 3 3 and 35, are provided for retaining each thus inserted individual insignia member within said frame. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 11-13, only one open portion 33" is provided, namely, in the side wall 2il thereof and the initials may be successively inserted in the proper sequence through said single opening. In this instance, a projection 34? is provided at each end of the open portion 32". In the embodiment shown in Figs. 14-16, a single open portion 33 may only be employed in the respective side wall of the frame and a single respective lug 34 may be provided adjacent said open portion 33/1).

In the embodiments of my invention shown in Figs. 1-10 and 14-16 the two side walls 20 and t of the frame are equal to each other and to the vertical median line when the device is held in vertical position, Each emblem 14 has two sides It which are equal to each other and to the two side walls 20 and Zli of the frame and to said vertical median line. Each emblem [4 may be moved from one side of the frame to the other past said vertical median line by tilting it on its lower point. The same statements are true in regard to the embodiment shown in Figs. 11-13, with the exception that the frame is divided into three parts instead of into two and in place of the vertical median line there are two separate lines each spaced from each other and from the adjacent side wall of the frame an equal amount,

It is thus apparent that I have provided a novel type of insignia member display device for use as a jewelry finding in which a selected plurality of insignia members may be inserted and. retained in position therein, or moved from one position to another therein employing only one set of similarly made insignia members with the advantages explained above.

It is understood that m invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An insignia member display device for use as a jewelry finding comprising a substantially sector shaped skeleton frame having continuous edge walls including equilateral side walls and a top wall, a continuous front wall comprising portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof a sufficient distance to overlap the edges of individual insignia members inserted therein and a continuous rear wall having portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof at least as far as said front wall portions, a plurality of substantially sector shaped interchangeable insignia members of equal size and shape contained within said frame between said front and rear walls, each also having equilateral side walls of the same length as the side walls of the frame and radial to the same center, the circumferential distance between the side walls of the frame being a multiple of the circumferential distance between the side walls of each insignia member and means on said frame to permit insertion of and to retain selected insignia members in selected positions within said frame, the top wall of each insignia member comprising a chord and said frame having a plurality of flat top walls comprising chords of the same equal length as those of said insignia members to receive respectively the top walls of each respective insignia member.

2. An insignia member display device for use as a jewelry finding comprising a substantially sector shaped skeleton frame having continuous edge walls including equilateral side walls, and a top wall, a front continuous wall comprising portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof a sufficient distance to overlap the edges of individual insignia members inserted therein and a continuous rear wall having portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof at least as far as said front wall portions, a plurality of substantially sector shaped interchangeable insignia members of equal size and shape contained within said frame between said front and rear walls, each also having equilateral side walls of the same length as the side walls of the frame and radial to the same center, the circumferential distance between the side walls of the frame being a multiple of the circumferential distance between the side walls of each insignia member and means on said frame to permit insertion of and to retain selected insignia members in selected positions within said frame, the top wall of each insignia member comprising a chord and said frame having a plurality of flat top walls comprising chords of the same equal length as those of said insignia members to receive respectively the top walls of each respective insignia member, each top wall of the frame having an open portion for the selective insertion of its respective insignia member and a bendable projection at the outer edge thereof for retaining its respective selected inserted individual member in selected position in said frame.

3. An insignia member dispay device for use as a jewelry finding comprising a substantially sector shaped skeleton frame having continuous edge walls including equilateral side walls and a top wall, a front continuous Wall comprising portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof a sufficient distance to overlap the edges of individual insignia members inserted therein and a continuous rear wall having portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof at least as far as said front wall portions, two substantially sector shaped interchangeable insignia members of equal size and shape contained Within said frame between said front and rear walls, each also having equilateral side walls of the sam length as the side walls of the frame and radial to the same center, the circumferential distance between the side walls of the frame being twice the circumferential distance between the side walls of each insignia member and means on said frame to permit insertion of and to retain selected insignia members in selected positions within said frame, said frame being heart shaped having two lobe shaped top Walls in simulation of the respective heart auricle top walls and the top wall of each respective insignia member being of similar lobe shape to its respective frame top wall portion.

4. A jewelry finding, comprising a skeleton frame having continuous edge walls including equilateral side walls radial to a common center, a continuous front wall comprising portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof a sufiicient distance to overlap the edges of ininterchangeable insignia members of substantially equal size and shape contained Within said frame between said front and rear walls, each also having equilateral side walls of the same length as the side walls of the frame and radial to the same center, the circumferential distance between the side walls of the frame being a multiple of the circumferential distance between the side walls of each insignia member, whereby said frames and a sufiicient group of insignia members to fill a demand for specific groups of insignia, all of a single size and shape may be sold in bulk to a retail jeweler and the specific insignia members to make up a particular insignia group selected from said main group and inserted by said retail jeweler on specific order, at least one of the edge walls of said frame having an open portion for the selective insertion of the individual insignia members therein, said frame having means theeron for retaining the inserted individual insignia members in selected position in said frame.

5. A jewelry finding comprising a skeleton frame having continuous edge walls including equilateral side walls radial to a common center, a continuous front wall comprising portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof a sufiicient distance to overlap the edges of individual insignia members inserted therein and a continuous rear wall having portions projecting inwardly from the edge walls thereof at least as far as said front wall portions, a plurality of interchangeable insignia members of substantially equal size and shape contained within said frame between said front and rear walls, each also having equilateral side walls of the same length as the side walls of the frame and radial to the same center, the circumferential distance between the side walls of the frame being a multiple of the circumferential distance between the side walls of each insignia member, whereby said frames and a sufficient group of insignia members to fill a demand for specific groups of insignia, all of a single size and shape may be sold in bulk to a retail jeweler and the specific insignia members to make up a particular insignia group selected from said main group and inserted by said retail jeweler on specific order, at least one of the edge walls of said frame having an open portion for the selective insertion of the individual insignia members therein, said frame having a bendable projection projecting integrally from an edge wall thereof adjacent said open portion for retaining the inserted individual insignia members in selected position in said frame.

CHARLES SILVERMAN. 

